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Verbascum Phoenician ( Flush of white )

Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,851
in Plants
Can I take cuttings of this,or save seeds? Whens the best time?
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.

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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If it's anything like the other colours of V. phoenicium, there isn't really anything to take cuttings from, just flower spikes coming up from the rosette of leaves.  You could try collecting seed when the flowers have gone over and the seeds have ripened but I don't know whether they come true when they're open-pollinated. Root cuttings might be the best bet, taken in winter when the plants are dormant - there's a description here https://www.gardensillustrated.com/plants/summer/verbascum-how-to-grow/ .
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited August 2022
    You can - but root cuttings are best - and they're easy.
    If you lift the plant in spring - some of the thick fleshy roots is what you need.
    They need to be planted the right way up vertically in compost.
    Take a cutting about 3-4" long from the root tip.
    Put that into a pot of compost with the root tip at the bottom of the pot.
    Cover the top of the root with about 1" compost, water and leave somewhere sheltered.
    About 4-6 weeks later you should see some strong sets of leaves appearing.
    Pot them on then plant them out and by summer they'll be decent size plants that flower in the first year.

    If you replant the parent plant elsewhere, you're bound to have left a bit of root in the original position that will also sprout and flower in the same year.
    I've got them dotted around all over the place now


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,851
    Thankyou so much @JennyJ for the link.
    Also @Pete.8 the root cutting is the way to go then. My daughter saw mine( first time Ive had them) and she went mad for them,so with a bit of luck and a fair wind I should be able to have some for her next year, also a few more for me. They have stood up well to the heavy downpours and sizzling sun,which is more than can be said for a lot of things in the garden.
    Many thanks.
    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Yes mine too - they only thing you need to keep an eye out for is the verbascum caterpillar in early summer which will quickly munch thorough the flower head.
    It's one of those plants that will readily sprout from a bit of root left in the soil, so they're quite easy to propagate.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    @Pete.8. Is that the Mullein Moth caterpillar or something different.  Mine all get eaten away.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Yes @lyn I think it is the same  - quite brightly coloured

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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